The Knicks are expected to get turned down by Phil Jackson, The Post has learned.

Relax. It’s not for their soon-to-be-vacant head coaching job. But it looks like Jackson won’t be able to grace the Garden on Feb. 24 when the franchise honors its forwards of the past as part of its ongoing series to remember the past. The Knicks face the Sixers that night.

Sources said an invitation yesterday was faxed to the office of Jackson’s agent, Todd Musburger, to try to get Jackson to attend the event. It’s unclear if that was their first attempt.

However, Jackson has told confidants he plans to stay in Australia/New Zealand into March during his grand vacation and likely won’t deviate.

Miami center Shaquille O’Neal, Jackson’s former coach, said he hopes Jackson doesn’t come to the Knicks and lobbied last night for Herb Williams.

“I would like to see Herb remain the coach,” O’Neal said before last night’s Knicks-Heat tip-off. “He’s worked his way up as a player, an assistant. I’d like to see him get a couple-year contract, see what he can do.”

O’Neal said that last line with a wink; Jackson’s girlfriend is Lakers executive Jeanie Buss.

Isiah Thomas, addressing the media for the first time last night following his 10-day recruiting trip to Europe, said, “We have a coach in Herb Williams right now whom in my opinion is doing an excellent job, going on the road, playing some of the best teams in the league.

“Phil Jackson, on the other hand, it’s always flattering to hear one of the greatest coaches in our game whose not coaching a team and he looks at our situation and has gone on record saying this could be a place he could possibly be interested in. All of us are flattered by that.”

Yesterday was not the first time the Knicks have reached out to Jackson since Lenny Wilkens stepped down last month and Williams was named interim coach. As reported here Sunday, sources said the team made initial contact with Musburger recently to express interest.

Jackson played 11 seasons for the Knicks, on their roster for both their championships, in 1970 and 1973. He’s fifth all-time in franchise history in games played with 732. When The Post asked him during last June’s NBA Finals if he thought his No. 18 should be retired, he said, “I don’t think that number should be retired as a player. It’s a wonderful thought, but no.”

The Knicks have held prior alumni gatherings this season to honor their guards and centers. The forward ceremony is expected to be the best attended and may include Miami assistant Bob McAdoo, whom some believe is a head-coaching candidate, if not for the Knicks.

People close to Jackson said the Knicks are on top of his short list but the Zen Master expects that to grow. Along with Los Angeles, Portland, Dallas and Minnesota could be suitors, and a friend said he believes Portland could be very appealing. Jackson is from Montana and might find living in the Pacific Northwest, something he has never done, an intriguing scenario.

As long as Jeanie Buss, daughter of owner Jerry Buss, remains with the Lakers, they are an option that can not be ruled out. Jeanie Buss is privately and publicly pushing for Jackson’s return.

Jackson has a series of speaking engagements in March and April and may not want to seriously sit down and interview for potential jobs until after that. The Knicks season is likely to end in mid-April without a playoff berth, so they can get a jump on some playoff teams if Jackson is ready to sit down sooner.